I know that my last post was all about Robyn Chachula and her new book, but to celebrate the release of
Baby Blueprint Crochet Robyn and I thought a blog tour stop at Loop-de-doo would be fun! So welcome to all Robyn's fans. :)
So, my cousin is having a baby in just a few weeks! Not only is it her first baby, but it's the first great-grandbaby in the family, so everyone is super excited. She's one of those mamas that has everything, which means that handmade gifts are in order! (Not that anyone would expect less of a crocheter, but anyway...)
I have a lot of other projects on my plate right now, but the great thing about baby stuff is that they take almost no time at all! So when I received Robyn's book in the mail on Friday, I decided my cousin should have Blueprint-Crochet-themed gifts for her baby shower, and I started making a mental list of all the projects I'm going to need to make.
First off, socks!
Being born in the winter months, baby Quinn is going to need her little toes to stay warm. The Snuggly Socks are just the thing. And tiny socks are always aww-inducing! And they're super quick to make too.
And then, of course:
I'm not sure if my cousin is planning on cloth diapering little Quinn, but either way, the Greenie Diaper Cover would be a great-looking accessory in the summertime, underneath a little dress...
...One like this, perhaps! I think the Joni Jumper is my favorite project in the book. One of the things I like best about it is that it can be used as a dress while Quinn is still an infant, and when she grows into a toddler she can still wear it as a tunic or vest! Any mama can appreciate being able to use clothes (especially handmade!) for more than one season.
There seem to be a lot of girl babies in my family and friends, but one of the things I love about this book is that there are also a ton of boy patterns to choose from!
It can be hard to find fashionable patterns for little boys, even with great tools like
Ravelry, so if all the little ones in your life are of the masculine variety, you are in luck - there are lots of patterns for boys in Baby Blueprint Crochet, and also some unisex patterns that can be easily adaptable for the little guys.
If you have never followed one of Robyn's patterns, definitely pick the book up and give it a once-over. Like its for-grown-ups predecessor
Blueprint Crochet, has a little something for every learning style. Those who most easily follow written instructions can take advantage of the clear text, and visual learners can enjoy the stitch and construction diagrams. (Robyn's background as an architectural engineer translates so well into these diagrams!) And if you get stuck on a particular construction detail, being able to switch back and forth between the text and diagrams can be super helpful.
One quick tip, though I'm sure I'm preaching to the choir: make sure you make a gauge swatch! This is especially important for me when I'm working on photography samples for Robyn, because she crochets much more loosely than I do, and I almost always have to go up a couple of hook sizes before I can make gauge.
In short, if you are planning on expanding your family or if everyone around you seems to be getting pregnant, this is an invaluable tool in your baby-shower arsenal, for both adorable clothes and practical items every mama can appreciate! Congratulations to Robyn on another great book! And check back here in the coming weeks as I will post a bit more with the results of my projects for Quinn.
